Category: SPECIAL

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) India’s peak power demand soared to a record high of 256.11 GW on Saturday as the heat wave intensified across the country, which forced both domestic and commercial consumers to step up the use of air conditioners and other cooling devices, data compiled by the Power Ministry showed.

The peak power demand on Saturday shot past the previous day’s consumption of 252.07 GW, which was also an all-time high. Senior officials said that there were no outages as electricity generation in the country was sufficient to meet the entire demand.

Experts expect the peak power demand to rise even further, with the Power Ministry estimating it at 270 GW for this summer season.

Officials said that power demand has risen sharply in recent days after remaining relatively subdued earlier in April when unseasonal rains cooled down the temperature. However, since mid-April, a sustained rise in temperatures has led to a steep increase in electricity consumption.

Temperatures in several regions have risen by as much as 5 degrees Celsius or more above normal, indicating a developing heat stress scenario across parts of the country, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD has issued a warning of an intense heatwave across India from April to June 2026, with above-normal heatwave days expected in the northern Indo-Gangetic plains, central India, and eastern coastal states. Temperatures could exceed 45 degrees Celsius in several regions, with high humidity compounding the risk to life.

The intense heat is expected throughout April, May, and June across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

Heatwave conditions are already affecting parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala in late April.

Extreme heat increases the risk of heat exhaustion and stroke, particularly for children, the elderly, and outdoor workers.

People have been advised to stay hydrated by drinking as much water as they can, even if they don’t feel thirsty.

They have also been urged to avoid outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours and wear light-coloured, loose clothing which does not absorb heat and allows air to flow through.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The BJP has issued a strict three-line whip to all its Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, directing them to remain present in the House continuously from April 16 to April 18, amid the upcoming special sitting of Parliament.

In an official notice signed by Office Secretary Shiv Shakti Nath Bakshi, the party stated: “A Three-Line Whip is being issued to all BJP Members in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha from Thursday to Saturday, 16th to 18th April 2026.”

It further instructed: “All Hon’ble Union Ministers and Members are requested to remain present in the House throughout all the three above-mentioned dates.”

The notice added, “Presence in the House is mandatory. No leave will be granted. Members are requested to strictly comply with the Whip and ensure their uninterrupted attendance in the House.”

The directive underscores the importance of the upcoming legislative agenda, with the government expected to push key business during the special session of Parliament beginning April 16, which will run for three days.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will reconvene on April 16 after a brief break in the Budget Session. The session is expected to focus on significant legislative proposals, including major reform bills linked to electoral and structural changes in governance.

Lawmakers are also expected to engage in high-stakes discussions that may require full attendance and possible voting, prompting the ruling party to enforce strict discipline through the whip.

The Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, is expected to be taken up during the upcoming special session of Parliament beginning April 16.

A three-line whip is considered the strongest directive in parliamentary procedure, and violation can lead to serious disciplinary action, including possible disqualification from the party in extreme cases.

The issuance of the whip comes amid heightened political activity in Parliament, where the government is preparing for crucial debates and potential passage of key bills. The opposition is also expected to strongly contest the agenda during the session, making full attendance of ruling party MPs strategically important.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday backed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s concerns regarding the Special Session of the Parliament on Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill on April 16, calling it a “clear breach of the Model of Conduct” as the Assembly election campaign will still be underway.

Congress has sought an all-party meeting regarding the delimitation before conducting a special session. The party has demanded that all this be done after April 29, when the active campaigning for Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal is over.

In a post on X, Ramesh shared Kharge’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wrote, “The Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji writes to the PM on the special session of Parliament being convened next week in the middle of the election campaign in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — which is a clear breach of the Model Code of Conduct. He has reiterated the opposition’s request to have an All-Party meeting convened anytime after April 29, 2026.”

A Special Session has been convened next week to deliberate on and pass the Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill.

PM Modi has written to floor leaders of all parties in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, seeking their support for the unanimous passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to ensure the implementation of women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 elections.

Kharge, in his reply to the Prime Minister’s letter, has criticised the Centre for “hurrying” the implementation of the Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill to “gain political mileage” rather than women’s empowerment.

In his reply to the Prime Minister’s letter to all parties in both Houses of the Parliament, Kharge said, “I have just received your letter on the special session of Parliament for a discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam from April 16. As you are aware, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was passed by Parliament unanimously in September 2023.”

“At that time, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, I had demanded that this important law should become effective immediately. Though in your letter you have mentioned that there was a broad consensus for its immediate implementation, you did not implement the same,” he said.

The Congress chief urged the PM for an all-party meeting regarding delimitation, which he said was associated with the changes to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. He also alleged that the special session of Parliament was convened without consulting the opposition.

“You will appreciate that without details of the delimitation and other aspects, it would be impossible to have any useful discussion on this historic law,” he said.

“You mention in your letter that your government has engaged in dialogue with political parties regarding this. However, I am pained to point out that this goes against the truth since all the Opposition parties have been urging the government to call an All-Party meeting after the current round of elections is over on April 29, 2026, to discuss the Constitution amendments being contemplated,” Kharge added.

He further accused the government of rushing the implementation of the Bill for political gains.

“The calling of a special sitting during the ongoing state elections only reinforces our belief that your government is hurrying the implementation of the Bill to gain political mileage rather than truly empower women,” he said.

Recalling the passage of past bills, Kharge said, “I am also pained to write that the past record of the government in matters of public importance, whether it is demonetisation, GST, census or even those pertaining to the federal structure like implementing Finance Commission recommendations and tax devolutions, does not inspire any confidence.”

“The constitutional amendments being planned will affect both the Centre and the states, and it is important that all parties and states, however small they may be, are heard in a democracy,” he said.

If the special sitting is meant to “strengthen our democracy” and “moving forward together”, “taking everyone along” as the Prime Minister writes in the letter, the Congress chief said that then he suggests that the Centre convene an All-Party meeting any time after April 29, when the ongoing Assembly elections are over, to discuss the delimitation issue which is being linked to the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will require support from opposition parties to secure the two-thirds majority needed for the passage of the constitutional amendment in Parliament.

The proposed legislation seeks to delink the implementation of women’s reservation from the 2027 Census and instead base it on the 2011 Census, in a move aimed at ensuring that the quota comes into effect before the 2029 general elections.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday inaugurated a conference titled ‘Transformation of Tribal Lives through Science and Technological Interventions – Preserving Language, Faith and Culture’ at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.

The conference was organised by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) and ITITI Doon Sanskriti School, Dehradun.

Addressing the gathering, the Vice President underscored the significance of blending modern innovation with traditional wisdom, stating that the conference has “beautifully demonstrated the power of scientific temper and technological advancement when combined with traditional knowledge”.

“When modern science works in harmony with language, faith and culture, it becomes a powerful force for protection and empowerment,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of tribal communities in India’s social and cultural landscape, Vice President Radhakrishnan said, “India has around 1.4 lakh tribal villages, comprising nearly 9 per cent of the country’s population.”

He emphasised that tribal communities hold rich traditional knowledge systems that play a vital role in conserving biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of forest resources.

He further noted that these communities have, over centuries, safeguarded India’s ancient cultural values, faith traditions and civilisational heritage.

The Vice President pointed out that tribal regions hold “immense potential” for green economic growth. He also praised the “exceptional skills” found among tribal communities, particularly in areas such as design, textiles and colour combinations, which have been preserved and passed down through generations.

Referring to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, he said the guiding philosophy remains ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’, stressing that “modern development and preservation of traditions are not contradictory but complementary”.

Recalling his tenure as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha, Vice President Radhakrishnan mentioned his support for the formation of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand, noting that these developments contributed significantly to tribal welfare and empowerment.

He also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for establishing the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, describing the move as a “moral commitment to justice, dignity and opportunity for tribal communities”.

The Vice President spoke about his visits to the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda at Ulihatu in Jharkhand and appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “bringing the contributions of tribal freedom fighters to the forefront of national consciousness”.

Highlighting key government initiatives, he referred to the PM-JANMAN programme, under which more than 2,400 roads covering nearly 7,300 km and over 160 bridges have been sanctioned.

He also mentioned the ‘Dharti Abha – Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’, which aims to benefit over 63,000 tribal villages by focusing on clean drinking water, housing, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Vice President Radhakrishnan also noted the rapid development of infrastructure and connectivity in the North-Eastern region and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to ensuring inclusive and balanced growth across all regions.

Congratulating ITITI Doon Sanskriti School on completing its Silver Jubilee year, he recalled that the institution was inaugurated 25 years ago by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He praised the school for emerging as a source of hope for tribal children from Uttarakhand, the North-East and Ladakh, adding that more than 2,000 tribal students have benefited from free, quality education provided by the institution.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could create strategic openings for China to expand its influence across Asia, particularly at a time when the United States is heavily “engaged in another theatre,’ according to a report.

“The war in the Middle East… is also reshaping the strategic environment in ways that extend far beyond the region,” the report by Japan Forward said, adding that by tying down American attention and resources, the conflict is leaving other regions “more vulnerable than they appear”, creating conditions that China has historically been adept at exploiting.

The analysis underscores that Beijing does not necessarily need to trigger crises to gain an advantage. “China’s strategic approach does not rely on precipitating crises in Asia… it often benefits more from their absence, particularly when the United States is preoccupied in another theatre.”

Drawing on historical patterns, the report points out that periods of intense US engagement in the Middle East have coincided with significant Chinese activity in Asia. “The years of the Iraq War offer an early example… Beijing expanded its footprint in the South China Sea with relatively limited external resistance,” the report states.

Similarly, during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, China increased military pressure around Taiwan. The report noted: “Taiwan recorded more than 900 sorties by the People’s Liberation Army into its Air Defense Identification Zone”, reflecting a strategy of sustained pressure below the threshold of open conflict.

The report also highlights the impact of US military deployment patterns, stating that when key assets such as carrier strike groups are stationed in regions like the Eastern Mediterranean or Red Sea, “they are necessarily absent from the Western Pacific”. This shift, it argues, can alter the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.

According to Japan Forward, China has increasingly relied on incremental and calibrated actions, including military exercises and infrastructure development, to reshape the regional landscape without triggering direct confrontation. “Each calibrated action… has remained below the threshold of an all-out crisis. Yet, together, they have reshaped the strategic environment in ways difficult to reverse,” the report notes.

The report also draws parallels with developments along India’s northern borders, referencing the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and subsequent infrastructure build-up as part of a broader pattern of strategic positioning.

In conclusion, Japan Forward emphasises that China’s approach is driven by timing and opportunity, stating that “the objective has not been to trigger confrontation but to reshape realities gradually in ways that avoid immediate escalation”.

–IANS

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